The head of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies of the delegation of the General Inspectorate of State Administration in Benguela, Crisóstomo Novais, de-dramatized, in an exclusive interview with the newspaper OPAÍS, the fear expressed by some citizens that that institution acts against certain administrative bodies government to think only about arresting people, but emphasizes that the objective is to inspect administrative acts. And, on the other hand, he rules out any type of theatricalization in the fines, in the case of a flagrant crime, as critics would have us believe.
The official expressed concern about the fight against petty corruption due to the fact that the actors involved, in many cases, use a “modus operandi” that is difficult to detect, which is why he appealed for user collaboration. “Because petty corruption, in order to reach summary judgment, we have to take both figures, active corruptor and passive corruptor.
So, dealing with these situations has been difficult, but when there is collaboration, things become easier”, he considers. However, despite this reported difficulty, Crisóstomo Novais praises the reporting culture of many citizens who tirelessly knock on IGAE’s door to report an illegal situation of which they have been victims. “Many employees still engage in practices that harm the public administration and whenever it comes to our attention, we file the appropriate complaint and provide treatment.
We called the person who had such bad behavior, as well as the highest head of the institution to be heard in court”, he explains. Our interlocutor says he does not understand the reasons that lead some citizens, including public managers, to be so alarmed when the IGAE approaches an institution to assess this or that illegality, in the face of a report of an alleged contrary practice. But, according to him, this is due to the fact that managers do not like having someone supervising their actions within the scope of managing public affairs.
“Their contracts, because they (inspectors) go there and see everything. Things that have to do with the management of the company. So, maybe, that’s my way of seeing it, it’s not a certainty, it’s just that people think that, when IGAE appears, it’s just to arrest people, but they are”, he dedramatizes, having added that the primary objective passes only and exclusively for inspecting administrative acts carried out by employees.
Crisóstomo Novais also de-dramatizes the positions that have been expressed by some social segments that that institution, in many cases, makes a show with regard to the fine of citizens in flagrante delicto, for the alleged commission of a crime, especially corruption. “Never.
What happens is this: we had to publicize our actions in order to discourage such practices. So much so that, whenever we have situations like this – in flagrante delicto – we will continue to publicize it, so that every citizen who sees their right violated, comes to our institution”, he highlights. He also justifies that, with the publicity, it is also intended to appeal to public officials to refrain from practices such as undue receipt of amounts.
“Because no Public Administration employee is authorized to receive money in cash. Now citizen portals have been created, where Rupe is generated, and payment is made”, she explains. These days, citizens have become so familiar with the General Inspection of State Administration to the point that the person responsible has stated that, even matters that are not within the authority of the body, will end up at the institution. From this perspective, the IGAE spokesperson also urges citizens, whenever they feel their rights have been violated, to go to that institution to express their concerns.
In recent days, as this newspaper had already reported, IGAE has several dossiers on the table with a dose of complexity, including that of the Empresa Provincial de Águas de Benguela. Since the end of October, IGAE technicians have been combing through the last three years of management at that company.
And the forecast, as this newspaper found out from some company employees, is that the inspectors will continue to be installed there until, at least, a few more months, such is the complexity of the process, as the current company is the result of a merger between the Águas do Lobito and Benguela.
BY:Constantino Eduardo, in Benguela